Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-23

After the scenes related in tine preceding
chapter Suzanne was taken i'll Of brain fever,
and for long time they despaired of her life,
but at last she regained consciousness and
little by little her strength. As soon as it
was possible she was removed to her great
uncle's home in the Val Dieu, near the Arden
mes mountains. Here the old man had a
foundry and large, roomy house surrounded
by trees and n garden, while not far away
flowed the river Meuse. The sweet, quiet and
pure dir soon restored the child to health,
but she seemed to have forgotten all about
the tragic scenes through which she had
passed The old couple told her that her
parents had gone away on a voyage, and she
looked at them quietly without speaking as
they told her, so that when they were alone
they said thankfully:
"She has forgotten all that went before this
sickness. Let us thank God that it Is son
Winter, always severe in the Ardennes,
came, and ice and snow took the place Of the
grass and fruits Of autumn, and winter and
summer went, and winter and summer came
again. Roger had been one year and a half
in the galleys
The snow had fallen several days and the
frost had made it hard and brittle, and travel
was almost suspended in the Val Dieu, and the
foundries seemed silent as the heavy snow
deadened the noises, and the wooden sabots of
the workmen we're as silent as If made OF
wadded wool as they walked over the thick
snow.
Night came, calm, cold and still, and the
moonlight gave an unearthly brilliance to the
scene. As the cold was intense all the houses
nlong the street of Val Dieu were closed, and
cheerful lights showed from the open win
dows. The rigorous cold seemed to throw the
whole village into a state of torpor. The
street was deserted, though it was but 10
O'Clock, except at the great foundry, where
they worked night and day.
At 1870 n man appeared near the tunnel OF
the railroad, on the jetty by the river side.
He had come in on the late train He was
tall, though he walked bent as II he bore
heavy weight on his shoulders, and he walked
direct toward the foundry belonging to NJ
Bernardo, and when there his feet refused
TO carry him and he leaned against an up
turned cart, as IL not knowing what else
to do.
A few moments he stood thus and then felt
q heavy hand clasp his shoulder and 2 voice
say somewhat rudely:
who are you and what are you doing
hereln
"You are M. Adrien Bernardo, are you
notT
II am, and who are youl"
The unknown looked about him timidly,
and then said in low voice that seemed
broken by emotion;
"Alas, / am Roger Laroquen
"You, in France and freeI'
Eyes, am here" said Roger, lifting his
hat so that NJ. Bernardo could see him
clearer, and then he continued: "And
Suzanne my childi You do not tell me il
she lives"
"She lives and is WELL and is with usn
Roger sighed as il a great weight was
lifted from his heart. There was short ST.
lence between them, then Bernardo said:
Come, come home with me. We can talk
there at our ease, for you want no one TO SEE
you, supposer'
They walked in silence TO the house, where
the old lady was still sitting before the fire.
When she saw her husband come in with that
pale, ragged man, with his long hair and
beard in disorder, she rose with look Of
fright Bernardo closed and locked the door
and then coming close to his wife said:
at is Laroque, the childs father"
"You here and freel" said the old lady,
AANihbiii5i tiA hnAih aAAiApob eho pdilib hOIuH
as her husband had
Roger bowed without speaking, and sank
into chair. Finally he mastered his emo
ton enough to ask TO see Suzanne. The old
couple looked pitifully at each other Had
he come to take their chidi
"She is asleep" said the old lady.
81 will not disturb her. Only let me look
at her never hoped to see her again. Oh,
let me see her now!n
They opened q door and signed him to fol-
low. There was dainty little room, little
bed with snowy curtains, and on the white
bed slept Suzanne, the light falling softly
upon her rosy face and her shining hair. He
knelt beside tie bed and kissed the dimpled
hand that lay outside the cover, but so softly |
thnt the sleeper knew nothing.
With bis heart relieved Roger retired from
the room and returned with the old couple to
the freside, and then he wept in silence for a
few moments. His heart was rent with sor.
row, and by the sight of that little form he